By Teri Hill
“Leading change” is a common phrase used in business circles, imploring organizations to make significant and perhaps even radical change. It sounds sexy, is clearly necessary, and arguably comes easy for entrepreneurs and business owners. They can profess they are change advocates because they will boldly go where few have gone before. But what about the rest of us?
Many of the principles outlined in business circles are actually applicable to most, if not all, of us. In our personal lives or our professional lives we can decide to be confined to our comfort zones or choose to “lead change.” Many of us tinker in new directions and play around the edges of the issues in our lives, without deepening our awareness or experiencing real growth. Is that really leading change?
The first step in leading change is to practice detaching from the familiar. We all have our comfort zones, that cozy place where we have discovered success, mastery, or even entertainment and joy. I watch my clients bend like swaying trees in a powerful wind, trying their hardest to stay in the comfort zones. Naturally, as human beings, we focus on the areas of comfort and mastery. Yet leading change requires consistent, persistent thrusts against the winds of normalcy. It means coming face to face with that which makes us uncomfortable.
The cornerstone of embracing and then leading change is to recognize your biases, your comfort zones, and your proclivities in action. Where is it you focus most? Where else could you focus? What else must be done? What areas of your personal and professional life are being neglected? Do you have relationships that need repairing? Are you living up to your responsibilities in the workplace? Are procrastination and other fear-based practices keeping you from living the life you really want?
Don’t just read this and go back to your modus operandi. That wouldn’t be leading change, but rather ignoring the fuel of reflection. Take two short minutes, 120 seconds, and list three areas of execution that appear to be missing in your personal or professional life. Be careful not to default to the areas you are most familiar with. Challenge yourself to look strategically, not tactically. What do you see? Now ask three other people whose strengths and backgrounds differ from yours. What do they see? How will you push yourself to focus in these areas?
How can you measure your success? In the area of leading change, first and foremost it is about you. Are you doing these two critical things: breaking out of old patterns of behavior and attitude, and exploring new frontiers through the assistance of reflection and feedback? If so, then you are on the road to leading change.
Leading implies modeling the behavior you want to see in others, whether at work or at home. Exercise changing your habits, tendencies, and comfort zones. Embark on a 90-day challenge to do something radically different. Exercise the mental and emotional muscle of change. What you focus on longest becomes the strongest.
Teri Hill, M.Ed. president of T.H.Enterprise, has been speaking, consulting, and coaching for over 25 years. She has led in the facilitation of global executive education for Fortune 50 companies, and trained and coached hundreds of leaders, entrepreneurs, and rising stars. A former executive, Teri understands the challenges in hiring, retaining, and leading people. She has a BA in Psychology and Masters from the University of Texas in Organizational Development & Leadership. Visit her website at www.terihill.com